iPhone 11 Pro Max to Motorola Razr: My picks for the best gadgets of 2019
Time to take a look at what I consider as the best gadgets of 2019. The list includes the iPhone 11 Pro Max, Nintendo Switch Lite, Motorola Razr to AirPods Pro.
The best gadgets of 2019 include the iPhone 11 Pro Max, Nintendo Switch Lite, Motorola Razr and AirPods Pro, among others.
In 2019, Jony Ive, the lead designer of the iMac, iPod and iPhone, left Apple to start its own creative firm, LoveFrom. It was a year when manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei, and Motorola showed their versions of a foldable smartphone, possibly the next big thing in smartphone technology. But bringing foldable smartphones to the market has proven to be a challenge with the first generation devices being anything but perfect. The year also brought us some concrete information on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, two of the hotly anticipated next-generation game consoles due to launch in late 2020.
In the end, 2019 closes with a lot of excitement. Before we usher in the new year, I look at the gadgets that impressed and impacted me the most. Here is my list of the best gadgets of 2019.
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For Apple, 2019 was the year of correction rather than reinvention. The company had been questioned in the past for the lack of smartphone innovation to which has replied with the iPhone 11 Pro Max. While the design was familiar, Apple brought in a triple camera system with superb details, a fantastic ultra-wide lens and impressive Night Mode. For big-screen phone users, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is hailed as the holy grail of smartphones. Although priced on the higher side, the iPhone 11 Pro Max still offers great performance, excellent battery life, and a better camera made for pro users. Read our review of Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max here.
The Echo Studio is Amazon’s answer to Apple HomePod. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Amazon Echo Studio
If there was a smart speaker that impressed me most this year, it was the Echo Studio. Squarely aimed at the Apple HomePod, Amazon’s Echo Studio does exactly what it was supposed to do: delivering the best sound experience possible. Similar to the HomePod and Sonos One, the Echo Studio uses far-field microphones to map out the room to deliver immersive 3D sound experience. To some extent, Amazon did manage to create a smart speaker at the top-end users might be interested to buy. If you really want a premium sounding smart speaker, seek out the Alexa-powered Echo Studio. Read our review of Amazon Echo Studio here.
The $399 price for DJI Mavic Mini seems fair enough for a tiny, ultra-light drone.
DJI Mavic Mini
DJI’s new Mavic Mini convinces you to try a drone that’s so tiny it can easily fit into the palm of your hand. And it is something of an achievement. It weighs only 259 grams, which is under the Federal Aviation Administration’s limit that requires you to register for a drone to fly. Although tiny, the Mavic Mini can fly for up to 30 minutes and has 4K HD video recording. I don’t know whether you agree or not, but I am intrigued by the DJI Mavic Mini. I think a lot of photographers, travel Vloggers, and even regular users might be interested in picking up the Mavic Mini. The $399 price for DJI Mavic Mini seems fair enough for a tiny, ultra-light drone.
Apple’s AirPods Pro are insanely popular among customers in the US.
Apple AirPods Pro
The AirPods Pro wireless earbuds are my favorite headphones of the year. They cost Rs 24,900, which is on the higher side, but the headphones come with a new design and boast features like active noise cancellation. I know a lot of people wanting to get a pair of truly wireless earbuds that deliver not only exceptional sound but noise-cancellation, which is great for blocking out background noise on airplanes or strolling around in the city. No wonder the demand is so high for the AirPods Pro that customers finding it hard to get their hands on a pair of AirPods Pro before Christmas. With the AirPods Pro, I think Apple has truly created the hassle-free wireless earbuds the world needs. Read our review of Apple AirPods Pro here.
The Switch Lite is possibly the best handheld console you can buy in the market today. (Image credit: Amazon.com)
Nintendo Switch Lite
When the Switch Lite was introduced earlier this year, everyone thought it’s a smaller and cheaper version of the Switch console. Yes, it’s portable and doesn’t let you connect to your television like the regular model but only costs $199. To me, the Switch Lite is a better handheld console than the original Switch. The idea here is not to plug the console to the TV; instead, Nintendo is aiming to make a new handheld console that lets you play every game you enjoyed playing on the Switch. Who would not like to play “Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” or “Overwatch” on the go?
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OnePlus 7T is an exceptional smartphone in its class. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/Indian Express)
OnePlus 7T
A lot of high-end phones were launched throughout the year, but no one had the impact of the OnePlus 7T. The OnePlus 7T is genuinely an impressive smartphone. It offers just about everything you expect from a flagship smartphone along with a smooth experience. The design feels natural, although the camera bump does feel a little large. The performance is exceptional, the triple-lens camera is great, the 90Hz display is buttery smooth, battery charges in minutes, and it looks solid too. The only question is: are you willing to pay Rs 35,000 for the OnePlus 7T? Read our review of OnePlus 7T here.
Motorola will bring the new foldable Razr to India shortly.
Motorola Razr
The Motorola Razr has changed what the world expects from a foldable phone. Yes, it is a super expensive device (it launches in January for $1499) and many can’t even dream of owning the Razr, but the flip-style foldable phone is too hard to be ignored. It’s a technical achievement to see a phone that folds in half like the clamshell phones of the 2000s. It looks cool, and the design is somewhat different from Samsung’s Galaxy Fold. I think Motorola did a fabulous job with a foldable phone that looks like a regular smartphone when it’s open, and it’s smaller and more pocketable when closed. And let’s not forget the Razr is perfectly flat when folded and it has no gap. Sure, it misses on specifications, but the Motorola Razr isn’t about the internal hardware. I can’t wait to hold the new Razr when it launches in India in the coming months.
Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle.
Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include:
Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech.
Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture.
Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups.
Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape.
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